Martinez Canyon is located in the desolate Florence Junction area which is just east of Phoenix and the Valley of the Sun. After an early morning drive out to the infamous Florence Junction Texaco station, a very popular meeting place for all the various 4WD groups in the area, the Roadrunner4wheelers pulled out for the trail. To get to Martinez Canyon you must first journey to the Martinez Cabins which involves weaving your way through the Arizona National Guard bombing range, BLM and Arizona State Trust Lands. Just before the Cabins you will travel down into the beginning of Martinez Canyon and encounter huge old cottonwood trees fed by a rare desert spring. The trail will then turn around a large rock out cropping and off to the right is a cave of sorts with a very old steel door. A short distance down the trail the cabins can be found and the Martinez Canyon trail begins.

Entrance to Martinez Canyon

On the way to Martinez Cabins

Cave with the steel door

Martinez Cabins

Upon entering the canyon you are greeted with the first of many rock gardens. A good set of rocksliders is a necessity on this trail as some of the rocks are quite sizeable. The trail consists of what is left of the old Martinez Mine road. It once was a well graded easily accessible dirt road, but after many years after the mine closure it has eroded into a 4.5/5 rated desert trail. You will end up making a big loop through the canyon and end up back where you started at the cabins.

Entering the Canyon

Through the rocks

Rocksliders are a must for Martinez Canyon

Riverbed at the start of the trail

After the initial journey down the creek bed you will approach the first of several waterfalls. Put one tire on each side of the large crack and head right up.

Mark's Tacoma heads up the waterfall

Mark on top of the waterfall

Steve's 4Runner at the waterfall

Steve going up the waterfall

A good sized rock garden then awaits the vehicles after the first waterfall climb. A bypass is available but everyone on our group opted to take the garden on.

Kurt heads up the rock garden

Chuck pilots the blazer through

Mark and his Tacoma

Watching out for rocks

From the rock garden you can see the old Martinez Mine Mill. More rocks lay between you and the mill which is your next stop. The Mill is a very well preserved structure with various mining equipment, generators and conveyor belts.

The mill in the distance

Phil's FJ-40 on the way to the mill

Optional rock garden at the mill

Martinez Mine Mill

Right next to the mill is a rocky creek bed you can drive down or you can take the dirt road. The creek bed takes significantly longer.

Equipment in the mill

Phil in the alternate wash

Steve's 4Runner on the trail

Kurt climbs a step

Once you are past the mill you have a series of waterfalls and stair steps to look forward to. There are also alternate lines to take if you prefer a harder challenge.

Phil climbs a stair step

A bit further on the rock

Toyotas lined up

Steel left behind on a rock

An alternate waterfall named Yellow Belly Ledge lies ahead. Two vehicles in our group climbed it. The straps were used just in case.

Kurt on Yellow Belly Ledge

Almost up

Getting closer

Phil on Yellow Belly Ledge

Once the waterfall and stair steps are completed a series of rocky switch backs takes you up the mountain to Martinez Mine itself.

Mark on the steps

Steve on the steps

Martinez Mine and Canyon

Up on the top beginning the trip down

Finally toward the end of the trail you get to the Luge. It is so washed out at this point is it impossible to use. The bypass is still drivable but the granite is extremely loose and the downward angle quite steep. Caution should be used when descending this short section of the trail.

Pat descends the luge bypass

Gary and his Jeep TJ goes down

Mark and the Tacoma go down

Phil in the FJ-40 head down

Right after the luge the trail takes you back to the cabins for a completion of the Martinez Canyon loop.